Indian Church’s Solidarity with No-nuke Protestors

September 20, 2011: The Office for Justice, Peace and Development (JPD) of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has demanded an immediate closure of the two 1000MW VVER nuclear reactors in Koodankulam in Tamilnadu, gradual decommissioning of all existing nuclear reactors in the country, and an immediate moratorium on all upcoming nuclear projects.
The statement was issued by Rev. Dr. Charles Irudayam, Secretary, JPD Office, in the midst of current popular protests demanding the closure of the Koodankulam Power Plant. As many as127 people are on hunger strike in Idinthakarai for the ninth day on Tuesday. More than 15,000 people ‘across caste, religious and political barriers, have been congregating at Idinthakarai every day, in solidarity with the fasters. Fishermen, farmers, manual labourers, merchants from 30 odd villages around Koodankulam – from the districts Kanaykumari, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli – have been striking work, while students continue to boycott schools and colleges.
The protesters fear that the commissioning of the newly constructed nuclear power plant at Koodankulam will place at risk the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people .
The CBCI statement asked the Government of India to promptly discharge their constitutional duty to protect citizens’ right to life as well as to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures. The statement also urged to promote increased generation of alternative sources of energy like wind and solar energy that are abundantly available as well as economically and environmentally sustainable.